2003 Lincoln LS V8 Sport from North America - Comments

Nothing yet. Off the lot, the ashtray door did not close properly, rear view mirror vibrated. These fixed under warranty.

So I bought a 2003 LS V8 Sport package, with a few more options. Sticker price (in Arizona) was $42800, but there were lots of discounts, rebates, etc, that made the purchase price $36000. The out-the-door price was $40,000. Comparatively, that's not bad for the car, except for the huge depreciation that these cars suffer. Before I review the LS, a little background is in order. I've been driving 3 different Nissan 300ZX cars since 1983 and I wanted the same great ride and handling, but in a 4-door sedan. The cars that I considered and drove were Cadillac STS, Infiniti G35 sedan and coupe, and used BMW 540. The Infiniti sedan is a very fine car, but I am not crazy about the styling. The coupe is even better, but the ride is very jittery and harsh. I think Infiniti has gone overboard trying to make its cars "sporty". The BMW ride and handling is great, but beyond that it does not offer much for the money. In fact, even if you buy a new BMW there are options that are simply not available. Also, the maintenance cost of a BMW without warranty is a killer. As for the STS, I love the styling, but GM has a long way to go in the quality department: the dealer's test car had trim and weather striping falling off, switches not working, A/C barely cold, etc.

The Lincoln LS.

The purchase experience was as good as I've seen with Infiniti and Acura. I had plenty of time to drive several different cars over a 2-day period and there was no heavy sales pressure. The dreaded "meeting with the finance manager" was painless and quick, with a minimal of paperwork.

The Exterior.

The exterior styling is not stunning by any means, but it's elegant, clean, conservative and well proportioned, without any weirdness, such as the CTS. The car looks best in black or the dark blue or green exteriors, but most colors look good. The overall dimensions are compact so that it's easy to park and fit in a so-called "2-car garage", unless your other car is a Deville or an Expedition. The HID headlights are well aimed so that they should not blind on-coming drivers. The doors open smoothly and close solidly with the proverbial "thud". The hood is made of aluminum and has a light feel opening, but does not close easily in that it might take a couple of tries. The engine compartment is dressed up with lots of plastic covers and easily accessible and color-coded caps for oil, water, etc. The battery is in the trunk to distribute vehicle weight. That should also keep the battery cleaner and cooler. The trunk is good size, except that it might be a bit shallow for full size luggage. The trunk door hinges are unfortunately the gooseneck luggage crushers that are always disappointing in a luxury class car. The trunk compartment is lined with a soft fuzzy material and has release pull-chords for the gas filler door and for releasing the folding rear seat backs. The spare tire is full size, sitting below a partition under the trunk floor. The battery is next to the spare tire.

The Interior.

At first glance the interior does not appear plush or luxurious. This impression comes from too much of the metallic (aluminum) finish. But that's the current trend in many cars and personally I'm not too crazy about it. You can dress up the interior with the real wood trim on the doors and steering wheel. Otherwise the interior is in good taste and well organized. The front seats are thick and supportive and covered with nice quality perforated leather. For my preference, I would have liked the seats to be a bit softer on the seating surface. The front seat head rests are huge and actually form a part of the complete seat back. Both front seats have power controls that allow for plenty of adjustment. Fitting in the driver's seat is made easy because the steering wheel telescopes and tilts and so do the foot pedals. Leg room in the front is reasonable and I'm 5'11''. The front seats can be both heated and cooled. The cooling happens by blowing cool air through the perforations. From the rear seat perspective, the front head rests can block the rear passenger view. But the rear seats are raised (stadium seats), which help with the view. The rear seats are also covered in perforated leather and there is a center armrest with two cup holders. I think the rear seats are too hard and would be uncomfortable for long trips. Leg room in the back can get tight, depending on how far back the front seats are moved. There is room under the front seats for the rear passenger toes. Also, since the rear seats are raised, the passenger tends to seat upright, allowing for more leg room.

The dash is very well laid out and logical - certainly much better than the BMW. The controls are easily accessible and visible. There's standard dual zone A/C, in dash 6-CD changer two power accessory plugs, compass in the rear view mirror, rain sensing wipers, and other goodies. The electronic parking brake, located in the center console, is a nice touch. The front cup holders in the front are located in the center console and are very practical. As for interior storage, there is plenty of room: the compartment under the center arm rest is deep and has coin holders, the glove box is big, there is a utility tray in the dash, and there are map pockets in the doors. There are also pockets behind the front seat backs. The standard radio has great sound and 6 speakers (4 in the front). At night, all the controls are lit, even the ones on the steering wheel (cruise and radio). The automatic transmission gear selector is a straight up-and-down slot and has the SelectShift (manual) selector in a parallel slot to the right. I mention this because I've read a "professional" review on the Web saying that the gear selector is difficult to use - that's nonsense. My only complaint about the interior is the quality of the vinyl used on the dash, door panels and the center arm rest. In this price range there should be either much better quality vinyl or at least some leather inserts in the door panels and leather covered center arm rest. This is unfortunate because I know that the look and feel of the vinyl used in the Taurus is much better!

On the Road.

The Lincoln LS drives great. The ride is smooth and comfortable and the interior noise level is well muted. The handling is wonderful and precise. My car came with 17-inch 235/50 VR Michelins. With both engines the acceleration is brisk, but of course the V8 has more pick up at all speeds. Making quick lane changes and sharp turns feels secure (the car has traction control). Driving on rough roads is controlled well, in that the vibrations are minimal and the noise is muffled. The turning radius is excellent. Braking is controlled electronically so that even if you slam on the brakes the progression is smooth. I haven't measured the acceleration to five decimal places, but the LS's acceleration is similar to that of BMW 540 or Infiniti G35 - more than good enough for the drive to work. I also haven't tried to test the top speed, but I'll leave such useless tests to car magazines.

Conclusion.

This car doesn't get enough recognition or advertising. The overall package is very competitive and the ride, power, and handling come very close to BMW 540. Beyond the handling characteristics, this is a better car than the BMW. If it weren't for the depreciation, this car would be a bargain, given its qualities and features. I don't yet know about its long term reliability, but based on all the information available on the Internet, I can conclude that the reliability is no worse than European cars, better than GM cars, and its maintenance costs will be less than the others. This car comes with 4 years of roadside assistance and 3 years of free routine maintenance.

I just purchased an 03 LS and agree with most you have written an intresting sidenote the Lincoln LS is detuned at least the v8 is the car shares most of its build with the jag s type.

My wife is tired of her GMC Yukon and is leaning towards a Volvo S80 with the turbos. Recently I "discovered" the Lincoln LS and she is very interested. I was thinking of buying a used 2003, since she puts very few miles on her car.

Any thoughts about the LS vs the Volvo S80?

Thanks

Mark.

I have a 2003 LS V8 fully equipped. Mine was billed as the "Premium Sport," which in 2004 was rechristened "The Ultimate."

I agree with most of the comments. Great fun to drive. Race-tuned suspension works real well in the 'twisties' and the car really shines there. ZF designed steering is tight, precise, with a narrow turning radius. 52/48 weight distribution is a plus in the turns. (The six is 51/49.)

Only problems I've had in the 6,000 miles I've driven it were two separate problems with the cruise control (wire severed and buttons defective) which of course were covered under warranty.

Have had a very good experience with the L/M dealership. They have treated me like a luxury car buyer, and are pleasant and courteous. Of course it helps that I am getting an LS as a loaner when I bring it in for repairs or free scheduled maintenance.

With 280 HP the V8 is torquey and gets up to speed quickly and easily. It is a comfortable performance highway car that is not overly noisy. The exhaust has a pleasing note. Frankly, it is too easy to speed in this car, so one should be aware, since you are likely to become a ticket magnet.

Rear seats fold down, which is very convenient for transporting skis and larger accoutrement. Rear seats are very comfortable and roomy, and have a heated seat option.

The THX sound system is awesome -- the only downer on that is that for $3K (which includes the GPS/Navigation system) it ought to include a direct input for an I-pod -- a feature that is available on the top of the line Ford Focus. Evidently Lincoln thinks that its target audience is too old to be into computers and MP3s. However, this 'hot rod Lincoln' is not your grandpa's, and is a joy to own.

Nicely organized and ergonomic dashboard. While I like the computer screen display on the NAV and Audio system, it tends to wash out during the day. Particulary if you are wearing polarized sun glasses.

HID headlights are really good. I hope they are reliable, as this is not something you can service or replace yourself. The placement of the fog lamp switch with the headlight switch (pull out) is well thought out.

Documentation that came with the car was good. The computer video CD helped make sense of the many options and gave a good overview.

For those of you who considering buying an LS, you might look into the Lincoln LS Owners Club on line for additional information. Lots of good information from owners, enthusiasts and Ford engineers (presumably in their spare time) Free 30 day trial membership is available.

This car is heavily discounted and substantial rebates are available. I purchased mine with 6,000 miles on it (it had been driven by the dealership's owner) and I got a great price, much better than A-plan. This was an alternative to purchasing one new, and let someone else absorb a lot of the first year's depreciation.

I just bought a 2004 Ultimate package.

I have owned a 2000 and a 2001 too!

So it goes without saying the car has been reliable and fun as a daily driver.

I finally broke down for the navigation system. I don't think I will go back to the old school way of Map quest. You can find anything you want and be escorted right to it.

Some of the new changes that are great are the HID lamps great coverage. The center console is much bigger and slides for your arm rest preference. The cooled seats really work, you don't realize until you have them, how nice it is.

I think the LS is one of the best kept secrets around. Hey and its American made too!

Jeff.

I am new to the Lincoln LS series myself, but recently purchased my first 2003 LS Sport. This vehicle is awesome! It had only 24,900 actual miles and a "one-owner". I drove a 1992 Crown Vic for 5 years, and traded up to a 1997 Lincoln Continental.

The LS V8 sold itself. I have never seen a car that handled and looked as good as this one. It was made to enjoy. A pleasure to drive with pride of ownership I've never known.

Yesterday I ran into a lady who had a 2000 LS and her only regret was they don't still make them today. what a shame. It out performs in every area, both in handling and luxury. I give it a great big thumbs up. GREAT CAR!